Tandem wheel supports

ABSTRACT

A concrete laying machine is provided which includes a body, a pair of rear supporting wheel assemblies and a pair of height adjusting devices, each supporting a side of the body in vertically adjustable manner above one of the supporting wheel assemblies. Each of the rear supporting wheel assemblies consists of a tandem wheel system including a major frame pivotally connected to the machine intermediate opposed ends of the major frame and having secondary frames pivotally connected to the major frame on opposite sides of the pivotal connection of the major frame to the vehicle. Wheels are journalled on the secondary frames on each of opposite sides of the pivotal connection thereof to the major frame with all of the wheels being arranged in tandem. Actuating means are provided which are operatively connected to each height adjusting device which can raise or lower a side of the body relative to the wheel supporting it. Power means is provided for propelling the machine and a front wheel assembly is mounted for steering the machine. A hopper or concrete chamber is mounted on the machine and includes an open bottom merging into a rearwardly extending open bottom mold. A paddle wheel assembly is located in the hopper and includes arms which are driven to move in the lower portion of the hopper in an arc toward the open end of the mold. The driven paddle agitates the mixture in the hopper and moves the same therefrom into the open bottom mold compacting the same therein as the machine moves forwardly. The open bottom mold shapes the discharged mixture to a desired cross-sectional configuration determined by the shape of the mold. Sensing means are provided to sense particular deviations from a predetermined relationship and cause the actuating means either to raise or lower the side relative to the wheel assembly supporting that side. Compensating means are also provided to cause other actuating means to be operated to raise or to lower the other side of the body in response to relative movement with respect to the adjacent side of the body.

United States Patent 1191 Rochfort Nov. 19, 1974 TANDEM WHEEL SUPPORTS [75] Inventor: William Phillip King Rochfort,

Brisbane, Australia [73] Assignee: Kerbit PTY.LTD., Queensland,

Australia [22] Filed: Oct. 11, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 296,589

Related US. Application Data [60] Division of Ser. No. 101,405, Dec. 24, 1970, abandoned, which is a continuation of Ser. No. 780,432, Dec. 2, 1968, abandoned.

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Nov. 18, 1966 Australia 14148/66 Jan. 26, 1968 Australia 32660/68 [52] US. Cl 404/108, 404/84, 280/1045 A, 180/2401 [51] Int. Cl. Elc 19/20 [58] Field of Search 404/84, 123,108; 280/1045, 104.5 A; 180/2401, 24.02

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,078,538 11/1913 Crompton et a1 404/123 1,835,112 12/1931 Hawkins 180/2401 X 2,054,437 9/1936 Mosel 404/105 2,283,455 /1942 Overman 404/110 2,359,299 /1944 Brown ISO/24.01 2,605,682 8/1952 Sarosdy 404/96 2,669,915 2/1954 McConnaughay 404/108 3,161,117 12/1964 Supject 404/98 3,190,196 6/1965 Guntert 404/108 3,241,855 3/1966 Kersey 280/1045 A 3,477,354 11/1969 Rink 404/105 X 3,584,547 6/1971 Davin... 404/83 3,595,144 7/1971 Rink 404/84 Primary Examiner-Nile C. Byers, Jr. Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Cushman, Darby & Cushman [5 7] ABSTRACT A concrete laying machine is provided which includes a body, a pair of rear supporting wheel assemblies and a pair of height adjusting devices, each supporting a side of the body in vertically adjustable manner above one of the supporting wheel assemblies. Each of the rear supporting wheel assemblies consists of a tandem wheel system including a major frame pivotally con nected to the machine intermediate opposed ends of the major frame and having secondary frames pivotally connected to the major frame on opposite sides of the pivotal connection of the major frame to the vehicle. Wheels are journalled on the secondary frames on each of opposite sides of the pivotal connection thereof to the major frame with all of the wheels being arranged in tandem. Actuating means are provided which are operatively connected to each height adjusting device which can raise or lower a side of the body relative to the wheel supporting it. Power means is provided for propelling the machine and a front wheel assembly is mounted for steering the machine. A hopper or concrete chamber is mounted on the machine and includes an open bottom merging into a rearwardly extending open bottom mold. A paddle wheel assembly is located in the hopper and includes arms which are driven to move in the lower portion of the hopper in an arc toward the open end of the mold. The driven paddle agitates the mixture in the hopper and moves the same therefrom into the open bottom mold compacting the same therein as the machine moves forwardly. The open bottom mold shapes the discharged mixture to a desired cross-sectional configuration determined by the shape of the mold. Sensing means are provided to sense particular deviations from a predetermined relationship and cause the actuating means either to raise or lower the side relative to the wheel assembly supporting that side. Compensating means are also provided to cause other actuating means to be operated to raise or to lower the other side of the body in response to relative movement with respect to the adjacent side of the body.

ll--ll PATENTE-L w 1 91914 3.849.017

SHEET 30F 3 TANDEM WHEEL SUPPORTS This is a division of application Ser. No. 101,405 filed Dec. 24, 1970 now abandoned which in turn is a continuation of application Ser. No. 780,432 filed Dec. 2, 1968 now abandoned. The present application relates to machines for laying a continuous run of concrete of constant section, for example, gutters and curbs, roadway median strips and the like. For convenience, reference will hereinafter be made to the application of the machine to the laying of a continuous run of guttering and curbing, but it is to be understood that this is by way of example only and the invention is not limited thereto.

Various types of such concrete laying machines are known, and these suffer from the disadvantage that the run of concrete laid by the machine will be laid at a constant height above the prepared (or unprepared) bed upon which the run is laid. It is possible that the bed will be uneven or that the machine may sink into soft spots of the bed or rise over stones on the bed and should either of these occur then the laid run will not be level along its top surface.

Another disadvantage of known machines is that adjustment of the extrusion orifice or mould outlet of the machine with respect to the datum level of the desired run is a complicated, generally manual, timeconsuming operation.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved concrete laying machine which is of simple construction and easily operated.

The parent application is directed to height adjustment in a concrete laying machine and sensing means acting therewith to effect desired height and levelling control in depositing masses of concrete during forward movement of the machine.

The present divisional application is directed to tandem wheel supports for the machine which includes a plurality of wheels arranged in tandem, a major frame assembly pivotally connected to the machine and at least one minor frame pivotally connected to the major frame on each of opposite sides of the pivotal connection of the major frame to the machine and means journalling at least two of said wheels on each of said minor frames, said wheels being located on opposite sides of the pivotal connection of the minor frame associated therewith to the major frame.

The invention isillustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a concrete laying machine according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a partly broken away sectional side elevational view of a portion of the machine shown in FIG. 1 showing the hopper and paddle assembly and open bottom mold;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the machine shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a partial rear elevational view of the maassembly 10 is an engine 11 which, in this instance, is a four cylinder petrol engine. The engine 11 is coupled to a hydraulic unit 14 in known manner to provide hydraulic pressure to a hydraulic receiver 15 forming part of a hydraulic circuit for the machine.

In the embodiment shown, the hydraulic receiver 15 is mounted below the main frame by welded gusset plates 27, beneath the engine and has mounted on its forward end 16 a pivotal connection for connection to the axle of the front wheel assembly 12.

The front wheel assembly 12 includes an axle l8 having at each end a steerable ground wheel 19. Each wheel has a driving sprocket 20 drivingly connected thereto, and the sprocket 20 is driven by a chain 21 which in turn is driven by a hydraulic motor 22 having a suitable sprocket 23. The motor 22 is connected to the hydraulic circuit by lines 24, control of the motor speed is by lever 25 mounted at the rear of the machine adjacent an operators platform 26.

The pivotal connection between the main frame and the front wheel assembly comprises a pair of pivot members extending substantially horizontally and at right angles from the center of the axle 18. Downwardly extending from the receiver 15 is'a pair of attachment members 28, 29 spaced apart along the fore and aft line of the machine. Each attachment member has suitable bearing surfaces to receive the respective pivot members, such that one attachment member is forward of the axle l8 and the other is rearward of the axle 18. The arrangement being such that the machine may be pivoted about the connection about an axis extending in the fore and aft line of the machine.

Extending forwardly from the machine is a direction control member 30 having a pair of actuating levers each extending to a king pin connection between each wheel and the respective end of the axle. The arrangement of the levers and connection being such that the direction of the front wheels may be adjusted by movement of the control member 30.

A concrete chamber or hopper 41) is mounted on the body behind the engine 11. A pair of height adjusting devices are located respectively on opposite sides of the hopper and each comprises a threaded member 42 on the hopper operatively engaged in a correspondingly threaded tubular member or housing 43, attached to respective ones of the supporting wheel assemblies 13. The member 43 is pivotally mounted at 44 to bracket 45 on the assembly 13. Actuating means, in this instance, a hydraulic motor 41 is adapted to drive the threaded member 42 whereby each side of the body may be raised or lowered.

Each rear wheel assembly 13 comprises a major frame 46 having pivoted thereto adjacent opposite ends thereof respective secondary frames 47 and 48, the pivotal connection between the secondary frames 47 and 48 and the major frame 46 being shown by numerals 49 and 50. Each secondary frame has a pair of wheels 51 mounted thereon in tandem relationship longitudinally of the machine, the secondary frames being in fore and aft alignment so that the two pairs of tandem wheels are also in fore and aft alignment.

A pair of rubbing or bearing plates 52 are mounted on the hopper 40, one opposite each secondary frame pivot as shown, restraining lateral movement of the major frame 46 relative to the longitudinal axis of the machine. Pivoted to each major frame is a locating member 53 telescopic within a guide 54 mounted on the hopper.

The hopper 40 as shown in FIG. 2 includes an inlet 55 to receive concrete mix, for example, from a truck of ready-mixed concrete, sidewalls 56, front wall 57 and rear wall 58.

Each of the side walls 56 are substantially vertical and interconnected by the respective front and rear walls 57 and 58. The front wall 57 slopes downwardly and rearwardly, terminating at a lower edge vertically below the lower edge of the rear wall 58. Rear wall 58, as noted from FIG. 2, has an upper portion which slopes forwardly and downwardly toward the front wall 57 and turns abruptly into a downwardly extending portion which is arcuate rearwardly. Mounted in the hopper transversely to the sidewalls 56 is a feeding means in the form of a paddle assembly generally shown by numeral 59. The paddle assembly comprises an axle 60 mounted in bearings 61 on the side walls 56 of the hopper and extending substantially radially outward from the axle are arms 62. In some circumstances it is preferred that the bearing be adjustably mounted so that the paddle assembly may be vertically adjusted. The outer portion 63 of each arms is curved away from the direction of rotation of the paddle assembly, the direction of rotation being indicated by the arrow in FIG, 2. A working face 64 at the outer end of each arm is substantially rectangular and may, for example, be a steel plate measuring three inches by three inches. It will be appreciated that the arm and working face may be cast integrally.

The axle 60 is driven by any conventional means in a direction as indicated in the arrow in FIG. 2 during which time the paddle arms and terminal end faces 64 agitate the mixture in the hopper and transfer the mixture into an open bottom mold to be described hereinafter extending rearwardly from the hopper.

The hopper has an open bottom providing an outlet 65. An open bottom mold 66 is removably mounted on the hopper 40 and extends rearwardly from the outlet 65 from the hopper. The open bottom mold has a crosssectional configuration corresponding to that desired in the paving mixture deposited by the machine as it is propelled forwardly. As shown in the drawing, the mold is suitably shaped for a gutter and curb and comprises a lower portion 67 for forming the gutter and an upper portion 68 for forming the curb.

The mold is bolted on to the hopper 40 by means of bolts 69 or secured thereto in any conventional manner. It will be seen that with the hopper containing a cement mixture, the working faces 64 will feed the cement mixture towards the outlet 65 and then compact the cement mixture into the face of the mold 66. The shown configuration of the arms 62 permits the compacting action of the faces 64 to continue for a larger arc of the circle drawn out by the rotation of the extremity of the arms than that of a straight arm.

Effectively, the curvature of the arms in a direction away from the direction of rotation positions the paddle faces such that during rotation of the paddle assembly the faces 64 of the plates push the concrete mixture horizontally stuffing the mixture into the open end of the mold. It will be clearly seen from FIG. 2 the open bottom mold effectively is open at the leading end at a position above the lowermost edge of the hopper. Pushing the concrete mixture horizontally compacts the same in the mold and during further rotation of the respective arms through the remaining are the mixture is agitated in the hopper. It will be realized that rotation of the arms driving the mixture of concrete into the mold will have a propelling effect on the machine since the mixture is deposited on the ground over which the machine travels during operation. Alternatively, the feeding means could be one or more auger assemblies mounted within the chamber and leading to the chamber outlet.

In cases where aeration of the shaped concrete is highly undesirable, for example, in climates experiencing zero and sub-zero temperatures, it is preferred that the feeding means be part of a concrete pump circuit leading from a suitable concrete supply to the chamber outlet.

As stated above, an operators platform 26 is mounted to the rear of the hopper 40 to enable an operator to control the machine by manipulating the controls of a control panel 70. The controls being 25 in respect of the forward movement of the machine, and 71 and 72 connected to the hydraulic motors 41 for tilting the hopper and mold about the pivotal connection 17. A control lever is also provided for a further hydraulic motor adapted to drive the paddle assembly.

Automatic height adjustment means may be employed to ensure that the machine is maintained in its predetermined transverse disposition, and at a predetermined working height above a prepared bed indicated at 73. This is achieved by sensing means operatively associated with an external reference line, which suitably may be a metal guide strip as shown at 74 which is tensioned and supported by posts 75, the guide strip 74 being a predetermined height above the prepared bed 73 and to the right hand side of the position where the curb and gutter is to be laid so that it extends to one side of the machine.

The sensing means includes a detector bar 76 which is pivotally mounted on and extends transversely away from the right hand side of the frame or hopper. At its inner end, the bar carries a mercury switch 77 which is electrically connected to a solenoid valve 78 which controls the supply of hydraulic fluid to the motor which raises the side of the frame from which the detector bar extends (in this instance the right hand side). The mercury switch is of a type that together with its electrical connection to the solenoid valve will be active to raise or lower the side of the frame depending upon downward or upward movement of the outer end of the bar which rests upon the strip. A second or compensating mercury switch 79 is mounted on the frame on the other side of the machine and operates a solenoid valve 80 associated with the other height adjustment motor in a similar fashion to the first mercury switch. Thus, as the right hand side is raised or lowered the machine will tilt from its predetermined disposition, and the second mercury switch will be active to raise or lower the other side of the machine. The compensating switch 79 may be so arranged to provide a predetermined tilted disposition of the body.

The strip 74 is preferably a steel strip of much greater width than thickness, and ispositioned with the major faces vertical. The steel strip will follow contours more faithfully than a rope line which will change slope suddenly at each support. The strip is clamped to the rods by adjustable clamps to permit rapid lay out of the strip or datum line indicator.

Alternatively, there may be provided a pair of detector bars extending laterally respectively from opposite sides of the machine and operating a double acting limit-switch. Each bar in such an arrangement would be pivotal about its longitudinal axis through a small arc, and terminate at its outer end in a fork adapted to engage, closely but slidably, respective ones of the guide strips 74 located on opposite sides of the machine. The bars and switches further may be so arranged that when the sides of the body are at a predetermined relationship to the guides the switches are open. Each microswitch could be connected in the electrical circuit of the solenoid valves 78 and 70. Should, for example, the body drop vertically, both detector bars would actuate their respective switches which in turn would cause the motors 41 to rotate the screws 42 to lift the body to its original position whereupon both detector bars would open their respective switches.

Should, for example, the left side of the body fall below the right side, the detector arm on that side would cause the motor 41 to be operated to drive the screw 42 to lift the left hand side of the machine back to its predetermined position. The body may be arranged in a predetermined tilted disposition by altering the position of the detector arms.

It may be preferred in some operating conditions that the machine should be automatically steered, in which case there is provided an automatic steering means including a sensor adapted to sense a steering guide and further adapted, upon deviation of the body from the course of the steering guide, to actuate steering means operatively connected to the steerable wheels to cause the body to be steered to such position that the body returns to the course of the steering guide. In such cases, each supporting wheel assembly may consist of only one ground wheel, castored to a frame supporting the body in adjustable manner. The wheels may be interconnected to provide steerable wheels which may be in addition to, or in place of, the aforementioned front steerable wheels.

The sensor for steering is preferably in the form of a bar having a fork end slidably engaged on the guide line 74 and an opposite end operating a double-acting limit switch arranged to actuate a double-acting solenoidoperated hydraulic valve which causes a hydraulic motor to be brought into action to steer the steerable wheels. The bar, when in a normal or neutral position, may maintain the limit switch open and upon deviation to either side operate the limit switch so as to cause the steering to be corrected.

It will be appreciated that other forms of drive for the machine and ancilliary components may be employed,

and other front and rear wheel assemblies may-be used. It will be apparent that other modifications in details of design and construction may be made without departing from the scope and ambit of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

We claim: 1. A concrete laying machine comprising: a. a mobile main frame having a front ground wheel assembly adapted for steering the machine; b. a hopper on said main frame for holding a supply of concrete mix and having an open bottom providing an outlet through which the concrete mix is discharged; c. an open bottom, downwardly facing mold extending rearwardly from the outlet of said hopper for receiving concrete mix discharged therefrom and shape the laid concrete to a desired cross-sectional shape; t

d. feed means within the hopper for feeding the concrete mix through the hopper'outlet into the mold; and

e. a pair of rear ground-engaging whe'el assemblies mounted on said frame independent of one another and located respectively on opposite sides of the hopper, each of said rear gro und-engaging wheel assemblies comprising two pairs of wheels disposed in tandem with each pair of tandem wheels independently pivotally connected to opposite ends of a major frame member, said major frame being pivotally connected to the main frame of said machine at a position between said pair oftandem wheels for free pivotal movement thereof.

2. In a machine for laying a ribbon of moldable mixture as the machine moves forwardly, a wheel support system comprising:

a. a front wheel assembly mounted on the machine at a forward end thereof and adapted for steering the machine;

b. a pair of rear wheel assemblies mounted on said machine on opposite sides thereof, rearwardly of said front wheel assembly, each said rear wheel assembly comprising:

i. a plurality of wheels arranged in tandem longitudinally of the machine;

ii. a longitudinally extending major frame pivotally connected to said machine for free movement about an axis substantially transverse to the length of the machine;

iii. a pair of minor frames pivotally connected to the major frame on respective opposite sides of the pivotal connection of the major frame to the machine and having the pivot axes thereof substantially transverse to the length of the machine; and

iv. means journalling at least two of said wheels on each of said minor frames, said two wheels being located on opposite sides of the pivotal connection of the associated minor frame to the major frame.

3. In a machine as defined in claim 2 wherein the pivotal connection of each major frame to the machine is offset longitudinally of the machine from the mid-point distance between the pivotal connection of the two minor frames to said major frame.

4. In a machine as defined in claim 2 including means mounting at least one of said major frames on said machine for vertical movement relative thereto and means for adjustably moving the same.

5. In a machine as defined in claim 2 including means to variously adjust the vertical position of each rear wheel assembly relative to the machine.

6. A paving machine including;

a. a main frame;

b. a hopper mounted on said frame for holding paving material to be deposited by said machine as it moves forwardly;

c. means on said machine for defining the outline shape of the paving material deposited during said forward movement of the machine;

(I. a ground-engaging tandem wheel system located on each of opposite sides of said hopper and each comprising:

ment about a horizontal axis generally transverse to the direction of travel of the vehicle;

3. at least two further minor beams each pivotally connected to said first major beam and located respectively on opposite sides of said horizontal pivot axis at positions spaced longitudinally of the vehicle and movable about respective second and third horizontal axes generally transverse of the direction of travel of the machine;

e. two or more ground-engaging wheels journalled on each of said further minor beams and located at positions spaced from one another longitudinally of the vehicle on opposite sides of the minor beams respective pivotal connections to said main beams; and

f. a front ground-engaging wheel assembly mounted on said frame forwardly of said hopper and adapted for steering the machine.

7. A paving machine-as defined in claim 6 including means to variously adjust the vertical position of each tandem wheel system relative to the machine.

-8. A paving-machine as defined'in claim 7 wherein said means comprises a mounting for said pivotal connection permitting movement of said pivotal connection on said machine vertically relative thereto and means for adjustably moving the same.

9'. A paving machine as defined in claim 6 wherein the pivotal connection of the major frame to the machine is offset longitudinally of the machine from the mid-point distance between the pivotal connection of two minor frames to the major frame adjacent thereto.

10. in a machine as defined in claim 9 including remotely controlled means on said machine for actuating said adjusting means. 

1. A concrete laying machine comprising: a. a mobile main frame having a front ground wheel assembly adapted for steering the machine; b. a hopper on said main frame for holding a supply of concrete mix and having an open bottom providing an outlet through which the concrete mix is discharged; c. an open bottom, downwardly facing mold extending rearwardly from the outlet of said hopper for receiving concrete mix discharged therefrom and shape the laid concrete to a dEsired cross-sectional shape; d. feed means within the hopper for feeding the concrete mix through the hopper outlet into the mold; and e. a pair of rear ground-engaging wheel assemblies mounted on said frame independent of one another and located respectively on opposite sides of the hopper, each of said rear groundengaging wheel assemblies comprising two pairs of wheels disposed in tandem with each pair of tandem wheels independently pivotally connected to opposite ends of a major frame member, said major frame being pivotally connected to the main frame of said machine at a position between said pair of tandem wheels for free pivotal movement thereof.
 2. In a machine for laying a ribbon of moldable mixture as the machine moves forwardly, a wheel support system comprising: a. a front wheel assembly mounted on the machine at a forward end thereof and adapted for steering the machine; b. a pair of rear wheel assemblies mounted on said machine on opposite sides thereof, rearwardly of said front wheel assembly, each said rear wheel assembly comprising: i. a plurality of wheels arranged in tandem longitudinally of the machine; ii. a longitudinally extending major frame pivotally connected to said machine for free movement about an axis substantially transverse to the length of the machine; iii. a pair of minor frames pivotally connected to the major frame on respective opposite sides of the pivotal connection of the major frame to the machine and having the pivot axes thereof substantially transverse to the length of the machine; and iv. means journalling at least two of said wheels on each of said minor frames, said two wheels being located on opposite sides of the pivotal connection of the associated minor frame to the major frame.
 2. means pivotally connecting said major beam to said machine at a position between opposed ends of the major beam and arranged for free movement about a horizontal axis generally transverse to the direction of travel of the vehicle;
 3. at least two further minor beams each pivotally connected to said first major beam and located respectively on opposite sides of said horizontal pivot axis at positions spaced longitudinally of the vehicle and movable about respective second and third horizontal axes generally transverse of the direction of travel of the machine; e. two or more ground-engaging wheels journalled on each of said further minor beams and located at positions spaced from one another longitudinally of the vehicle on opposite sides of the minor beams respective pivotal connections to said main beams; and f. a front ground-engaging wheel assembly mounted on said frame forwardly of said hopper and adapted for steering the machine.
 3. In a machine as defined in claim 2 wherein the pivotal connection of each major frame to the machine is offset longitudinally of the machine from the mid-point distance between the pivotal connection of the two minor frames to said major frame.
 4. In a machine as defined in claim 2 including means mounting at least one of said major frames on said machine for vertical movement relative thereto and means for adjustably moving the same.
 5. In a machine as defined in claim 2 including means to variously adjust the vertical position of each rear wheel assembly relative to the machine.
 6. A paving machine including; a. a main frame; b. a hopper mounted on said frame for holding paving material to be deposited by said machine as it moves forwardly; c. means on said machine for defining the outline shape of the paving material deposited during said forward movement of the machine; d. a ground-engaging tandem wheel system located on each of opposite sides of said hopper and each comprising:
 7. A paving machine as defined in claim 6 including means to variously adjust the vertical position of each tandem wheel system relativE to the machine.
 8. A paving machine as defined in claim 7 wherein said means comprises a mounting for said pivotal connection permitting movement of said pivotal connection on said machine vertically relative thereto and means for adjustably moving the same.
 9. A paving machine as defined in claim 6 wherein the pivotal connection of the major frame to the machine is offset longitudinally of the machine from the mid-point distance between the pivotal connection of two minor frames to the major frame adjacent thereto.
 10. In a machine as defined in claim 9 including remotely controlled means on said machine for actuating said adjusting means. 